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DP insists on sleeping with DSD

285 replies

Lena007 · 06/09/2021 13:03

It doesn't sit right with me.

Have been together with DP 1.5 years. He has one 8 years old DD. We live separately but there are talks about us renting together in the nearest future.

DSD is with her dad 50% of time, just various days/ times/ nights. All fine.

She is a lovely girl, we all spend some time together but most of the time she spends with DP on their own. I spend some time with her too, just the two of us to slowly build a nice relationship.

Whenever I am at DP's and stay overnight when DSD is there I am expected to sleep in the spare bedroom so they can share the bed in the master bedroom. DP calls it 'their room' ie his and DSD's. It has been going on for over 6 months.

Initially I thought, ok, she needs to adjust and settle in the new place and accept the fact her dad is in a new relationship (first relationship after he split with her mum), but that's not that. She says one day she would love to go on holiday with me and DP but of course she is having one room with dad and I can sleep in another hotel room. DP just changed subject because he had seen shock on my face.
On the same day she says to DP that she wants to sleep in the spare bedroom on her own, to which DP replied ' No. I'm never going to leave you like that ' and he insists he sleeps with her whenever she is at his. I have heard her saying it at least 3 times. They stay up late watching tv/ netflix cuddled up on the sofa then they both go to bed together. I'm sat on the second sofa and then go to bed there on my own.

I've raised it with him and he says it is him who wants to sleep with DSD, not her. He says he loves her so much and misses her, that he loves failing asleep and waking up next to her and he isn't going to do anything about it because it is just a way it is and he wants to sleep with her. Then I've said it doesn't make any sense for me to stay overnight at his when she is here, I would rather be at my own place if I've to sleep on my own anyway. He says that he doesn't want to spend less time together and he wants me to be a part on their lives and be here when DSD is here too, and that he would expect me to behave like an adult, not to be jelaous and just understand and accept it because he would. I have told him I thought it was only a temp solution and in standard relationships adults sleep together instead one adult being delegated to the spare bedroom when children are here. He said that we aren't in a 'normal' relationship and will never be because he doesn't get to see his DD every day.
I would understand it if she needed to sleep with him, but no, it is him insisting on it.

He says if we rent together this will change and he will be going to sleep in DSD bedroom sometimes and I won't have to sleep in the spare room. But it still just doesn't feel right.

Aibu?

OP posts:
sassbott · 06/09/2021 17:53

@Lena007 whatever you end up doing, do not, under any circumstances co-habit with this man.
There are so many messed up dynamics at play here, I don’t know where to begin. Whatever you try to ‘put right’ will not serve you well.

No healthy parent in their right mind gives their home kids full run to put their stuff where they feel like it. In actual fact it tends to be the complete opposite. Where most parents prefer child’s clutter/ toys/ mess to be cleared away so that there is a space the adults can relax in. Because it is a home for everyone. This guy is so focussed on his child, there will be absolutely no space for you. It’s not healthy and there is no way I would sign up to living like this.

Please however speak to the NSPCC and get some advice from them on how to deal with it. Even if this is him having an abundance of inappropriate boundaries, this is impacting his daughter who has every right to privacy and her own space. His level of control here is quite disturbing tbh, I find it even worse that he’s taking his fucked up way of thinking and presenting it as someone ‘generous’ (she shouldn’t be confined to one room).

This guy is either completely clueless or knows exactly what he's doing and is manipulating a situation to mask his behaviour.

This thread absolutely has my skin crawling

StarshipsAreMeantToFly · 06/09/2021 17:54

I will call NSPPC for some guidance. And him, I could give him an ultimatum, tell him about how serious it is (hoping he doesn't get it for some reason) and give him a choice of this stops as of now or I'm out.

To be honest I would call the NSPCC for advice and do exactly what they suggest. They are the experts. And just leave him. It's too weird.

SandyY2K · 06/09/2021 17:56

And him, I could give him an ultimatum, tell him about how serious it is (hoping he doesn't get it for some reason) and give him a choice of this stops as of now or I'm out.

You've expressed how you feel and he doesn't agree with you..why give an ultimatum.

I personally would just walk away or at the very least, I would refuse to sleep over while his daughter is there.

ChequerBoard · 06/09/2021 17:58

@Lena007 Why would you bother with an ultimatum?

Even if he agrees to change, it doesn't alter the fact that he thought this behaviour was appropriate in the first place.

You haven't known him that long, who knows what else thinks is perfectly OK that is completely off-beam?

spotcheck · 06/09/2021 18:03

No one would bat an eyelid if a mum was doing it.

Yes, they really really would

Starseeking · 06/09/2021 18:04

Red flag 1: DP is creating a mini-wife in his DD

Red flag 2: DP accuses you of being jealous of his DD

Knowing what I know now of these types of relationships, I'd cut my losses and move on from this shower given it's only been 18 months (basically since first lockdown if you are in the UK).

Lottapianos · 06/09/2021 18:04

OP, I don't know if you have your own children, but you are far more clued up about what children need than this child's father is. His boundaries are all over the place, and even if you deal with the bedroom issue, there will be loads more weirdness to come, absolutely guaranteed. Well done on phoning NSPCC and looking out for that little girl

Graphista · 06/09/2021 18:09

PLEASE speak to social services about this. This is completely inappropriate and unhealthy. This is something called emotional/covert incest and is abusive.

To be quite honest I'll be AMAZED if there isn't physical sexual abuse also occurring this child needs protecting.

And of course for your own sake dump him. He isn't interested in a healthy relationship with an adult woman.

PLEASE PLEASE don't ignore this

@ActonSquirrel co-sleeping is fine if the child/ren are happy to continue, I co-slept with my dd until she was almost high school age though not every night mostly weekends, she would sometimes co-sleep with her dad and stepmum too when she was there but it was ALWAYS her choice and never forced on her THAT is the issue here.

His whole attitude and comments are highly suspect.

Op I had a father like this and it went on to become physical sexual abuse PLEASE alert the authorities

I honestly think it would be ill advised for you to try and raise this with him op as you may put the child at more risk. Let the experts deal with it

Frankly he sounds obsessed with her which is exactly how my father was.

I am begging you for her sake speak to the authorities ASAP.

Quite frankly I'm shocked you didn't think to before now.

This is a deeply unhealthy, abusive dynamic and needs to be stopped. I honestly wouldn't even pause and do the nspcc "half step" I'd be straight onto social services.

Please do take it from someone who was in this child's position it's horrible and she has no power, no way to escape it without help.

mynameisbrian · 06/09/2021 18:09

The fact this man refuses to acknowledge his DD preference to sleep alone says it all really. We girls need to be taught personal boundaries, and if you feel uncomfortable to own that and not accept it. If her own father cant accept hi DD boundaries you have a huge issue. He needs a kick up the ass and told to respect his DD wishes and boundaries...by not doing so is creating problems for her in later life

Lena007 · 06/09/2021 18:11

@ChequerBoard

Because I believe he wouldn't hurt her and that he does something without thinking and releasing how serious it is. Maybe it is just too naive to think that

OP posts:
Miniroofbox · 06/09/2021 18:13

He is hurting her by doing this. It’s abusive.

sassbott · 06/09/2021 18:15

@Lena007 no abuser walks around with a sandwich board and ringing a bell stating their true intent. He's trying to get you to move on the understanding that you sleep in a different bedroom when his daughter is with him in bed.

What better way to get a cover than to say ‘but Lena was there the whole time, I’m not doing anything.’

If you sleepover without trying to stop it, you become part of the problem. As you’re helping to normalise his behaviour.

ChequerBoard · 06/09/2021 18:16

[quote Lena007]@ChequerBoard

Because I believe he wouldn't hurt her and that he does something without thinking and releasing how serious it is. Maybe it is just too naive to think that [/quote]

Read what @Graphista says below.

Yes you are being incredibly naive.

Being naive is one thing, but now it's been pointed out, don't become an enabler of abusive behaviour.

Blueberry40 · 06/09/2021 18:22

This is very disturbing and completely inappropriate. Sorry but I would run and not look back.

aConcernedPrude · 06/09/2021 18:22

Inappropriateness aside, OP, what are you even getting out of this relationship?

It sounds exhausting and it sounds like your feelings are waayyyy down his list of priorities.

Is it even worth it?

TooWicked · 06/09/2021 18:24

There’s a name for men like him.

I’d report him and end the relationship.

bigbeatmanifesto · 06/09/2021 18:25

My 8yo doesn't even come in our bed when he's ill never mind all the time, very odd she should definitely have her own space.
I wouldn't even make kids of the opposite sex share bedrooms never mind a grown man and his child the only situation this would happen in was if there was no other room in the property as a last resort but there is a spare room as you have said which the child is also wanting to stay in, very odd behaviour IMO.
At 8 years old My DS loves his own space I feel very sorry for your DSD having no bedroom privacy & independence at the hands on her own father.

Theunamedcat · 06/09/2021 18:25

@ActonSquirrel

No one would bat an eyelid if a mum was doing it.

She is his daughter. She will grow out of it before long.

My 8 yo niece won't sleep alone and it is a huge bone of contention as I have refused to look after her in the past as I'm not bed sharing with an 8 year old. She either stays up late until you go to bed or you have to go.to bed with her at 8pm and I'm doing neither.

I wouldn't want a relationship with a man I couldn't even sleep with at home or on hols I'd dump for that. What's the point.

Its him that needs to grow out of it not her!
aSofaNearYou · 06/09/2021 18:26

@aConcernedPrude

Inappropriateness aside, OP, what are you even getting out of this relationship?

It sounds exhausting and it sounds like your feelings are waayyyy down his list of priorities.

Is it even worth it?

This. He's horribly disrespectful to you OP, he has awful views. Why would you want to stay with him?
Lena007 · 06/09/2021 18:27

@Graphista

I'm so sorry to hear you have been through it. It is heart breaking to read. Thank you for sharing it Thanks

I couldn't sleep at night because of that.
What do I tell him? That it simply doesn't work for me? After so many months, just like that? I'm conscious I need to protect DSD so can't just say I'm ending and this is the reason, can I? I have got my one stuff I'm his flat, he has a key to mine (and I have got a key to his) If I report it it would be so obvious that it was me?

OP posts:
Applesandpears23 · 06/09/2021 18:28

I consider myself quite pro bed sharing and I think this isn’t ok. The norm in circles where bed sharing is common would be to offer the child access to a separate bed from 2/3 years old and allow them to choose where to sleep each night. Many families bedshare until 5 or 6 but I don’t think it is common after that and certainly not once a child expresses interest in their own bed.

NoSquirrels · 06/09/2021 18:30

He said the full flat is DSD's and she is free to have her stuff everywhere, that means her clothes on the living room sofa, livingroom full of toys. He said she doesn't need to have her own bedroom just to sleep there and there is no point in doing it.

That’s fine - he’s free to say the toys can be everywhere or whatever. No issues. But it is an issue that he thinks giving her her own bedroom is somehow ‘limiting’. It’s giving her choice.

He’s stifling her freedom by pretending not to understand that she might like a room of her own.

God, he sounds absolutely insufferable apart from anything else.

Lena007 · 06/09/2021 18:31
  • I've got my stuff at his flat.

Posted without proof reading

OP posts:
colouringindoors · 06/09/2021 18:33

On the same day she says to DP that she wants to sleep in the spare bedroom on her own, to which DP replied ' No. I'm never going to leave you like that

This is seriously wrong.

UnicornsandRainbows1 · 06/09/2021 18:43

The second one is that I believed this was something DSD needed

She's telling you both that she doesn't. He does.

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